Experiment 3

DETERMINATION OF ACETIC ACID CONTENT IN VINEGAR

Frenche Hechanova

BS in Fisheries II

Chem 23 Laboratory

Section 2

5 December 2014

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 1

 ABSTRACT

The experiment was conducted to determine the percent acetic acid in a

commercial vinegar sample by the method of standardization of a solution. The

sample of Datu Puti brand vinegar was analyzed via titration with a standard 0.1M

NaOH solution. The mass percent concentration of acetic acid was determined to be

4.369% which gives a percent difference of 9.225% compared to the manufacturer’s

reported acetic acid content of 4.0%. However, there were factors affecting the

accuracy and precision of results such as over running of solution during titration,

losing amount of vinegar while transferring it to other container, and incorrect

reading of NaOH solution in the buret. Yet, on the other hand, acidity of Datu Puti is

accepted via the standards set by the FDA which ranges from 4.0% -5.0%.

INTRODUCTION

Vinegar is an aqueous solution of an organic acid, the acetic acid (Mm=60.05

g/mol), regardless of its variety. It is a chemical substance subjected to analytical

scrutiny. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) set certain standards for every

food item that contains chemical substance. According to those standards, the

concentration of acetic acid in common vinegar cannot be less than 4 or more than 5

percent by weight. The acid content in vinegar is referred to as acidity. The acidity in

each specific batch of vinegar produced is routinely verified by the quality control lab

at the manufacturer’s site,(http://www.studymode.com/essays/Fda-Vinegar-

Chemistry-1225-Lab-1821067.html., 2013).

An acid can be titrated by a base, so as with vinegar. Titration is the process of

adding a known amount of a solution of known concentration to a known amount of

solution of unknown concentration. Sodium hydroxide often appears wet since it

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 2

absorbs moisture from air. Thus, if the solution of sodium hydroxide is prepared by

weighing, the concentration of solution may not be precisely the intended

concentration. Meanwhile, potassium phthalate has lesser tendency to absorb water

from air and will dry for a reasonable period of time. Potassium hydrogen phthalate is

a primary standard and it means that carefully prepared solution of known

concentration of potassium hydrogen phthalate may be used to determine the

concentration of other solution such as sodium hydroxide and the reaction would be,

KCO2C6H4CO2H + NaOH → KCO2C6H4CO2Na + H2O

The equivalence point of titration occurs when chemically equivalent amounts of

acid and base are present. Once the equivalent point of the titration is known, the

concentration of sodium hydroxide can be determined and it is then use to titrate

vinegar. Concentration of vinegar is determined and the percent acetic acid can be

determined from the concentration of vinegar. The reaction between standard sodium

hydroxide and acetic acid in vinegar shows,

NaOH(aq) + HC2H3O2(aq) → NaC2H3O2(aq) + H2O(l)

Generally, this experiment ought to determine the percent acetic acid in a

commercial vinegar sample by the method of standardization of a solution.

METHODOLOGY

I. Standardization of NaOH

First, we weighed about 0.7g-0.8g potassium phthalate into each three

numbered 250-m Erlenmeyer flask. Then, we added 50 ml of distilled water to

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 3

 each flask and dissolved potassium phthalate in the solvent. Next, we also added

two drops of phenolphthalein indicator to each flask. Lastly, we titrated each

solution with 0.1 M NaOH until end point or faint pink coloration.

II. Determining the Acid Content in Vinegar

First, we obtained one sample of manufactured vinegar and determined its

brand name. Then, we diluted 25.00 ml of vinegar into a 250-ml flask with

distilled water. Next, we mixed and pipeted 50.00 ml of aliquots into each of the

three 250-ml Erlenmeyer flask. We also added about 50.00 ml of water and two

drops of phenolphthalein indicator to each solution. Finally, each flask was then

titrated with standard 0.1 M NaOH to the first permanent faint pink color.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1.1. Data for the Determination of Acetic Acid in Vinegar

Molarity of standard NaOH(aq): 0.1 M NaOH

Vinegar brand: Datu Puti

Reported mass percent of acetic acid in vinegar: 4.0 %

Trials 1 2 3
Vinegar used (ml) 25.00 ml 25.00 ml 25.00 ml
Volume Aliquot
50.00 ml 50.00 ml 50.00 ml
Used (ml)
Final Reading
35.65 ml 34.23 ml 35.88 ml
NaOH (ml)
Initial Reading
0.01 ml 0.01 ml 0.22 ml
NaOH (ml)
Vol. NaOH used
35.64 ml 34.22 ml 35.66 ml
(ml)

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 4

 % Difference for Mass Percent Concentration

= [(/expected wt. % - measured wt. %/) ÷ expected wt. %] x 100

/ 4.0  4.369 /
 x
4.0
 9.225%
Table 1.2. Results for the Determination of Acetic Acid in Vinegar

Trials 1 2 3
Molarity of
HC2H3O2(aq) in 0.7083 M 0.6801 M 0.7087 M
Vinegar
Average Molarity
0.7304 M (using only Trials 2 and 3)*
of HC2H3O2(aq)
Percent Difference 3.916 % (for Trials 2 and 3 only)*
Mass Percent
Concentration of 4.369 %
HC2H3O2(aq)

In this experiment, the sample of Datu Puti brand vinegar was analyzed via

titration with a standard 0.1M NaOH solution. The resulted average percent weight of

acetic acid in vinegar was 4.369% which gives a 9.225% difference compared to the

4.0% concentration reported by the manufacturer.

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 5

 One of the possible source of error was the difference between trial 2 and the

other trials. Addition of NaOH solution in a continuous stream near the endpoint of

trials 1 and 3 produce a dark pink coloration. Trial 2 require 1.44-1.46 ml more

NaOH than the other trials. The volume used for trials 1 and 3 was too high, resulting

in a incorrectly high calculated molarity for acetic acid.

Another possible source of error would be losing some vinegar when transferring

to a solution from the pipet to the Erlenmeyer flask. The lower volume of the vinegar

will surely result into lower volume of NaOH to titrate it until endpoint. Assuming

the volume of vinegar transferred was 25.00 ml, the resulting calculated molar

concentration of acetic acid would be incorrectly low.

Moreover, recording of incorrect initial volume of NaOH solution such as 0.01

ml if the level of solution was actually higher than 0.01 ml on the buret. The solution

above 0.01 ml mark would result in more NaOH solution delivered than is actually

recorded base on the endpoint. An incorrectly low volume of NaOH delivered will

result to incorrectly low calculated molar concentration of acetic acid. Therefore,

correct technique is essential for obtaining good data and accurate and precise results

in this experiment.

CONCLUSION

In this experiment, the sample of Datu Puti brand vinegar was analyzed via

titration with a standard 0.1M NaOH solution. The mass percent concentration of

acetic acid was determined to be 4.197% which gives a percent difference of 9.225%

compared to the manufacturer’s reported acetic acid content of 4.0%.

On the other hand, acidity of Datu Puti is accepted via the standards set by the

FDA which ranges from 4-5%.

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 6

 CONTRIBUTION OF PARTNERS

I. Joshua Elijah Lira. During the conduction of experiment, Joshua did

contribute his knowledge and skills for us to finish the experiment on time. He did

titrated the 2nd container on the standardization of NaOH part as well as the 2 nd

container on determining the acetic acid content in vinegar.

II. Katrina Bernadette de Juan. Katrina did prepare the equipment needed for

the experiment. She is also hands on in the entire experiment. She is the one who is

guiding us on doing the next step of the experiment.

REFERENCES

FDA Vinegar Chemistry 1225 Lab [Online]. July 2013. StudyMode.com.

Retrieved July 2013 from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Fda- Vinegar-

Chemistry-1225-Lab-

1821067.html. (accessed December 01, 2014).

Juniata College, Science in Motion, 2014

Experiment 3. Chem 23 (Lab) Determination of Acetic Acid Content in Vinegar.

Department of Chemistry. University of the Philippines Visayas. 2014.

APPENDICES

The results on standardization of NaOH solution.

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 7

 Fig. 1. Three trials obtained on standardization of NaOH solution.

The results on determining the acetic acid content in vinegar standardization of

NaOH.

Fig. 2. Three trials obtained on determining the acetic acid content in vinegar via

titration.

Table 1. Standardization of Sodium Hydroxide

Primary standard used: KHP

Formula mass of primary standard: 204.22 g/mol

% Purity of primary standard: 99.90%

Trials 1 2 3
Weight of standard
0.7102 g 0.7095 g 0.7190 g
KHP (g)
Corrected weight 0.7095g 0.7088 g 0.7183 g

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 8

 of KHP (g)
Final Reading
60.81 ml 44.90 ml 35.40 ml
NaOH (ml)
Initial Reading
26.00 ml 9.81 ml 0.01 ml
NaOH (ml)
Volume NaOH
34.81 ml 35.09 ml 35.39 ml
used (ml)
Molarity of NaOH 0.09980 M 0.09891 M 0.09939 M
Ave. Molarity
0.09937 M
NaOH
Standard deviation 4.455x10-4
RSD 4.483 ppt

The calculations of the results.

A. Corrected Weight of KHP in Three Trials

= weight of KHP (g) x Percent Purity of KHP

Trial 1 = (0.7102g)(0.9990) = 0.7095g

Trial 2 = (0.7095)(0.9990) = 0.7088g

Trial 3 = (0.7190)(0.9990) = 0.7183g

B. Molarity of NaOH

molKHP molNaOH 1
 correctedw eightKHPx x x
204.2 gKHP molKHP netvolum
Trial 1

molKHP molNaOH 1
 0.7095 x x x
204.22 gKHP molKHP 34.81mlNa
= 0.09980 M

Trial 2

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 9

 molKHP molNaOH 1
 0.7088x x x
204.22 gKHP molKHP 35.09mlN
= 0.09891 M

Trial 3

molKHP molNaOH 1
 0.7183x x x
204.22 gKHP molKHP 35.39mlNa
= 0.09939 M

C. Molarity of HC2H3O2(aq)

molNaOH molHOAc molH

 netvolumeNaOHx x x
LNaOH molNaOH 0.0
 0.7083MTrial 1

0.09937 molNaOH molHOAc

 0.03564 Lx x x
1LNnaOH molNaOH 0.
 0.7083M
Trial 2

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 10

 0.09937molNaOH molHOAc
 0.03422x x x
1LNaOH molNaOH 0.
 0.6801M
Trial 3

0.09937 molNaOH molHOAc

 0.03566 Lx x x
LNaOH molNaOH 0.
 0.7087 M
D. Average for Trials 1 and 2

0.7083M  0.680

2
 0.6942M
E. Average for Trials 2 and 3

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 11

 0.6801M  0.708

2
 0.7304M
F. % Difference for Trials 1 and 2

/ 0.7083  0.6801 /

0.6942
 4.062%
G. % Difference for Trials 2 and 3

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 12

 / 0.06801  0.7087 /

0.7304
 3.916%
H. Mass % of HC2H3O2(aq) in Vinegar

Assume that density of acetic acid is equal to water.

0.7304molHOAc 60.05 gHOAc 1L

 x x x
LHOAc molHOAc 1000ml 1.0
 4.369%

Experiment 3/Chem 23 Lab/W 7-1 13